>> you're an intrinsically happy person. and, by the way, third year for australia. third year in a row. >> they say you got to go. >> i've got to go. you stay. thanks for watching "around the world." scary moments for crew ship passengers after a firebreaks out. people were told to put on their life jackets and run to a deck in the middle of the night. plus -- an oregon teen had napalm, a molotov cocktails stashed under his bedroom floor and planning a school attack deadlier than columbine. and inside a tornado literally. winds at 175 miles per hour.

talk to the storm chasers up ahead. it is the "cnn newsroom." i'm suzanne malveaux. president obama returning to the jersey shore for an update on the recovery from superstorm sandy. he is touring the area with governor chris christie. you might recall, christie took some heat from republicans, some republicans when he appeared with the president. this was just after the storm hit just before the november election. today, the president, he is meeting with homeowners, business owners, as well, helped by some of the federal recovery dollars that came from the administration. want to bring in yjessica yelli. the president is speaking soon here, jess. and paint a picture for us, if you will, two leaders, side by side, walking through some of the recovery here. what does this do for both men in terms of look lookiing like leadership or some friendship?

>> reporter: suzanne, for both men, there are political advantages. for chris christie, potential political liability. for the president, a way to demonstrate government when it works. for the last few weeks, we've seen examples of government dysfunction and in-fighting especially over the last controversies regarding the irs, in particular. now the president can highlight fema, emergency management response organization which by most accounts here in new jersey has done a very good job responding. for the president, a special opportunity to focus on that. for governor christie, he's up for re-election this year. more than anything else, he'll be judged on his response to hurricane sandy. so for him he can highlight the same things. how quickly the boardwalk has reopened. here's a man, we asked him how he feels about progress so far. listen to what he said. >> being a resident down here, it's pretty amazing what they've done. i don't know if you've seen the boardwalk, it's repaired by

convention hall. there was a huge section here by the casino that was completely replaced. in no time. >> reporter: so, for many new jersey residents, it's a positive for governor christie, to be highlighting the work that's taken place here, suzanne. of course, some political fallout could be seen down the line, if he chooses to run for president, we can talk about that, if you want. >> okay. you know what's interesting? you see the president with republican governors. we saw him of course with oklahoma's governor mary fallin. today new jersey's governor christie here. they embrace him. they certainly embrace the federal dollars. is there a disconnect between republican governors and some of the gop in washington who are focusing more on controversies. >> well, yes. and there's also a job difference. so when you're the governor, as christie and fallin are, what they want is, as you said, federal dollars. new jersey has gotten billions,

with a "b" from the federal government and sandy response. and you get a lot of media attention. now, everybody watching this knows that the new jersey shore is open for business. that's free advertising for the state of new jersey. so that's a plus for the governor. but some republicans have criticized him for embracing president obama in the past. and if he chooses to run for president in 2016, you can imagine that these images of him with the president today could be played by a rival's campaign in some attack ads potentially. there's risks on both sides. >> how have the two men changed over the last seven months or so? governor christie has gone through a procedure to lose a little bit of weight. i'm assuming the president might be a little bit grayer. >> reporter: right. presidents getting grayer. governor christie losing instead of gaining. but i will say that the governor hasn't lost his magic touch. today they've already gone to an arcade and played a game of

think touchdown five, throw a football through a tire. and the president threw five times, got zero for five. chris christie, the governor, got it through in his first toss, won a stuffed bear, gave it to the president. how than for the political bromance? >> nice, nice! two for christie, zero for the president. they have to play another match. thanks, jess. we'll be back to you as the president starts to speak. the red cross raised $303 million, for the victims of superstorm sandy. seven months later 110 million still unspent. that is because the red cross says it is holding on to money to deal with unforeseen needs of sandy victims. but there are critics, however, who say there is really plenty of need for that money right now. you might remember the red cross changed how it raises money. it no longer pools the money that it raises. it keeps different relief funds separate. and they were supposed to be

basking in the sun, right, in the bahamas right now? instead, passengers on board the royal caribbean "grandeur of the sea" arriving in baltimore with rain earlier in the day on chartered flights. the cruise was canceled after a fire broke out on the ship early. this happened early yesterday morning. now the ship is being moved to dry dock for repairs. that's happening this afternoon. and one passenger describes what it was like, the chaotic moments as the trouble first began. >> the first thing i thought was the boat could have been sinking, because when we went to bed it was extremely wavy, we were rolling around in our beds. we were on the deck for a half hour before they announced that it was a fire. but when we did get on the deck, we saw the lifeboats being lowered. so we were just reaching out and we saw a light on fire. we didn't see any smoke coming up from deck three. we didn't know it was a fire until they announced it.

>> the ntsb and coast guard both helping with this investigation into the fire. with cruise ship problems now in the headlines again, it is certainly turning people from away from making cruise ship vacations a destination. that is the question here. is that actually happening? zain, you've got carnival cruise lines, several cruise run into trouble, including "triumph" standed for five days. what about the bottom line here? is this eventually going to hurt the cruise line, particularly that one? >> reporter: well, suzanne, you would think so. surprisingly, the cruise ship industry isn't being hurt as much as you might think from all of this negative publicity. carnival actually posted a profit of $37 million in the first quarter of the year. royal caribbean a profit of $76 million in the first quarter, despite having fewer sails than carnival. carnival says its booking

volumes are higher. they expect revenue to fall for the year because they've had to cut prices significantly to lure customers back. if you look at royal caribbean, the stock is doing fine. only down by more than 1% today. i spoke to an analyst who says that investors are aware these cruise disaster might seem they are happening more frequently but it could be the fact they're publicized more. bottom line, cruise ship inexpensive way to vacation and travelers don't have that much in terms of cheaper alternatives. >> so they offer these free cruises after its a disaster on the ship. always make me wonder, why would you get back on a cruise ship? a lot of people take advantage of these things. any concern about long term whether or not they're going to lose customers or just figure, well, this is a sure thing? >> reporter: well, surprisingly, bookings should hold up. 17.2 million people went on cruises in 2012.

in 2013, that number's expected to reach 17. 6 million it's getting higher. every time there's a problem on the ship, the cruise lines stand to lose quite a bit, cost of repairs, reimbursing 3,000 passenger. when the ship is out of service for some time, more money to be lost. instances don't seem to have a long-lasting effect on business. booking season next year, carnival might able to raise prices as long as there aren't any more disasters on board ships. >> we'll see. >> reporter: we'll see. >> thanks, zain. wanted to do a quick track of the markets here. the dow jones charging higher today. if you see, take a look at big board, dow up 159 points or so. investors started buying as soon as the markets opened, that happened after the long holiday weekend. and what seemed to spur things on, a positive statement from the bank of japan on its

economy. plus, new reports showing that home prices going up and americans have more confidence now in the economy. calling him a copycat. an oregon teenager goes to court for allegedly planning to use home made bombs to attack his high school. prosecutors say they wanted to be deadly than the columbine hospital attack. miguel marquez. >> reporter: 17-year-old grant accord planned and was prepared to carry out a coordinated bomb and gun attack against his school. >> this is a case of a planned assault on a target-rich environment. and that target-rich environment is west albany high school. >> reporter: hidden in a secret compartment of a floorboard of his mother's house, they found six explosive devices, pipe bombs made from drano and

molotov cocktails. >> that wouldn't even cross our minds. >> reporter: a court will be charged with manufacturing and unlawful possession of a deadly weapon, attempted aggravated murder. authorities laid out their theory. >> in this in case, we would be relying upon evidence of planning, in other words, what is the intent, diagrams, check lists, a plan to use explosive devices, and firearms to carry out a plan specifically modeled after the columbine shootings. >> reporter: that's the 1999 attack in colorado, carried out by eric harris and dylan klebold who used bombs and powerful guns against students and teachers, killing 13, wounding 21. authorities are not saying how far along acord was along in his planning. they said he was a quiet teen

and didn't fit the bill of a killer. >> you don't think it's going to happen in your neighborhood, especially a quiet, young man the. >> reporter: 17-year-old will be charged as an adult. >> miguel marquez joining us live from core valless, oregon. explain to us what the mother has said. she has an explanation about why she believes this happened. >> reporter: she believes, her son suffers from ocd due to a rare condition which is a reaction, the body has to the autoimmune system. if you get strep throat, for instance, your autoimmune system causes your body, for young people at least, to go into a sort of shock and it can lead to things like ocd, depression, anxiety, and she seem to be offering this up as a reason that this happened. she expresses great concern for the community she loves as well. it is not clear how this would play into the plot that this young man is accused of

developing. suzanne? >> all right. strange explanation. we'll see whether or not that has any merit. thank you, miguel. here's also what we're working on for this hour -- investigators in kentucky searching for the shooter who killed a police officer. up next, the victim's wife, she is speaking out about her husband. plus -- this is incredible video from inside a tornado. two storm chasers rode it out in a special vehicle. a door and a hatch torn open. kids, check it out. fainting. parents unable to look up. we'll tell you why these intense moment as the spelling bee are about to come even more tense. i think farmers care more about the land

than probably anyone else. we've had this farm for 30 years. we raise black and red angus cattle. we also produce natural gas. that's how we make our living and that's how we can pass the land

and water back to future generations. people should make up their own mind what's best for them. all i can say is it has worked well for us. before i do any projects on on my own.st at angie's list, you'll find reviews written by people just like you. i love my contractor, and i am so thankful to angie's list for bringing us together. angie's list -- reviews you can trust.

...and we inspected his brakes for free. -free is good. -free is very good. [ male announcer ] now get 50% off brake pads and shoes at meineke. in chicago, an arrest in a case that shocked the country. police say they have charged a man in the killing of 6-month-old jenila watkins in mar march. willis is charged with first-degree murder and aggravate assault.

the death was seen as really a new low in chicago's struggle to end the gun violence in the city streets. kentucky police are still hunting for clues in the killing of one of their own. this was early saturday, jason ellis gunned down while heading home from his shift. removing debris from the road when he was shot multiple times. investigators believe he was ambushed. earlier today, his widow talked about the husband that she has now lost. >> he was an amazing man and i just want everybody to know what amazing man that he was. he was a dedicated family man. he loved our family. loved our boys. he loved me. he was dedicated to his job. he loved his job. he loved the people that he worked with. and i just want, you know, everybody to know what an

amazing man he was. >> that is heartbreaking when you see that. more with what amy was saying about her husband here. does she have any other ideas about why this happened? and what is she offered to tell us more about him? >> amy ellis was visibly distraught. still in mourning. she's grieving. this is a long process for the family. she really focused more about her husband. that's what she was talking about primarily. she, again, very upset. but she was able to talk about her husband. she say he was a good man who loved his job, his wife, two young boy. how the children are coping with their dad's death. >> the younger one, he knows, you know, tried to explain the best i can, knows that daddy's not coming back, but we will see

him one day again in heaven. he got hurt yesterday and that's when he started letting it all out. he just screamed and screamed and screamed, he wanted his daddy. and we all sat there and cried with him, we said, we know, we do, too. >> officer ellis gunned down early saturday. police in kentucky say he was ambushed when he stopped on the freeway to remove debris from the road. we don't know if ellis was the target or if the shooter was looking to kill whoever stopped on the road. so far, there are no solid leads or arrests. but the police chief has vowed to track down the killer, dead or alive. >> you can see how that family's struggling there. i imagine that they will have a memorial and funeral service that will unfold in the days ahead. >> there was a candlelight vigil that took place at the police department last night. the family was there.

there's a visitationer for offr ellis tomorrow. his funeral is planned for thursday morning. >> thank you. a new development investigation into the killing of the british soldier last week. two suspects arrested at scene, taken to a hospital after being shot by police. one of those men was now released from the hospital. that happened earlier today. he was taken to a police station in south london. he's going to be questioned by counterterrorism investigators. in the uk, suspects usually charged within 36 hours of formally being questioned by the police. this is an amazing story. this is neighbors helping neighbors. that is the scene. this is out of oklahoma after that tornado devastated the town of moore. we'll bring you the latest in recovery, up next after a quick break. we gave people a sticker and had them show us. we learned a lot of us have known someone who's lived well into their 90s. and that's a great thing. but even though we're living longer,

one thing that hasn't changed much is the official retirement age. ♪ the question is how do you make sure you have the money you need to enjoy all of these years. ♪ i tthan probablycare to emoreanyone else.andears. we've had this farm for 30 years. we raise black and red angus cattle. we also produce natural gas. that's how we make our living and that's how we can pass the land and water back to future generations. people should make up their own mind what's best for them. all i can say is it has worked well for us. just like a tablet. so easy to use, it won a best of ces award from cnet. and it comes inside this beautifully crafted carrying case. introducing the all-new 2014 chevrolet impala

with the available mylink system. ♪ [ beeps ] ingeniously connecting you to your life and the road. that's american ingenuity to find new roads.

>> live pictures, asbury park, the governor chris christie speaking. let's listen in. >> you can just feel it. everybody is ready to welcome america back to the jersey shore

this summer and so am i! two days after sandy hit us, the president of the united states came to visit new jersey to see the damage for himself and to pledge his support and the support of the federal government to help us recover and rebuild. so now, seven months late, we know this, that we made great progress. but that we still have so much more to do. so many more of our families who need to get back in their homes. so many more of our businesses who need to get back up and running and employing people still. so many, so many of our citizens who just want their lives to go back to normal. so while i'm thrilled that the progress we've made in the last seven months, we've got a chance to show the president some of that earlier today up in point pleasant. i also made sure that he

understood there's still a lot more work to do for the people of our state and i am not going to let anything or anyone get in between me and the completion of the mission to restore and recover our great state. so now, on behalf of the people of the state of new jersey, it is my privilege to introduce the president of the united states of america. ♪ >> hello, new jersey!

it is good to be back in jersey. i love you back. let me, first of all, say thank you to governor christie for that induction and the great work he's done here. your mayor, ed johnson, is here as well and has been working tirelessly on your behalf. we've got three great representatives in congress from new jersey, rush holt, frank pelone, donald payne jr. last week my advisers asked me, they said, mr. president, do you want to spend next tuesday in washington or would you rather spend it at the jersey shore?

and i've got to say, i've got to make tough decisions as president but this wasn't one of them. >> inaudible. >> i preeb thappreciate that. governor christie and i spent time on the point pleasant boardwalk. i got a chance to see the world's tallest sandcastle being built. we played some touchdown fever. i've got to say, christie got it in the tire the first try. although i did pay for his throws. i played a little frog bog and governor christie's kids caught me the right technique for in the hammer to get the frogs in the buckets the way i was supposed to. and, of course, i met with folks still rebuilding after sandy. now, we all understand there's

still a lot of work to be done. there are homes to rebuild. there are businesses to reopen. their are landmarks and beaches and boardwalks that aren't all the way back yet. but thanks to the hard work of an awful lot of people, we've got wonderful shops and restaurants and arcades that are opening their doors and i saw what thousands of americans saw over memorial day weekend. you are stronger than the storm after all you've dealt with, after all you've been through. the jersey shore's back. and it is open for business and they want all americans to know that they're ready to welcome you here. and i've got to say, if they ever let me have any fun, i'd have some fun here.

i was telling my staff on the ride over, i could see being a little younger and having some fun on the jersey shore. i can't do that anymore. maybe after i leave office. i think a friend of mine from here once put it pretty well. down the shore everything's all right. he's the only guy a president still has to call the boss. other than the first lady. but for generations, that's what this place has been. life isn't always easy. we're a people who have to work hard, do what it takes to provide for our families. but when you come here, everything's all right.

whether you spend a lifetime here or a weekend or summer, the shore holds a special lace in your heart and a special place in america's methodology, america's memory. you know when i was here seven months ago, hurricane sandy had just hammered communities all across these coasts and lives were lost and homes and businesses were destroyed and folks were hurting. and i remember something chris said back then, he said, we cannot permit that sorry to replace the resilience that i know all new jerseyans have. why and it didn't. you didn't let it. you kept going. these towns have a special character. not just in the summer but all year round. from the moment the hurricane hit, first responders worked around the clock to save lives and properties. and neighbors opened their homes and hearts to one another. and you came together as citizens to rebuild and we're

not done yet. i want to make sure everybody understands that because for somebody who hasn't seen their home rebuilt yet, or still trying to get their business up and running again, after all of those losses. we don't want them to think that somehow we checked a box and we've moved on. that's part of the reason i came back, to let people know we're going to keep on going until we finish. but if anybody wondered whether the shore could ever be all right again, you've got your answer this weekend. from seabright to bay head, to belmar so seaside heights, folks hanging out on balconies and beaches, shows sold out at the stone pony, kids were eating ice cream, going on rides, going eating some more ice cream. guys were trying to win the big stuffed animals to impress a

special girl, so like i said, the jersey shore's back in business. the work's not over, though. seven months ago i promises you that your country would have your back. i told you we would not quit until the job was done and i meant it. i meant it. craig fugate, the head of fema, he couldn't be here today. i want to thank him and his team for their ongoing work. fema was here before sandy made landfall. they're still here today pop working with the governor's team and task force i set up to support families and communities who still need help. since the storm hit, we've provided billions of dollars to families and state and local governments across the region, and more is on the way. and even as my team is helping communities recover from the last hurricane season, they're starting to prepare for the next hurricane season, which starts this saturday, because if there's one thing that we've learned last year it's that when a storm hits, we've got to be

ready. education, preparation, that's what makes a difference. that's what saves lives. and anyone who wants to make sure they're ready for a hurricane or any other disaster, i want them to visit a website called ready.gov, make a plan. it's never too early. we've got to remember that rebuilding effor like these aren't measured in weeks or months but measured in years. that's why this past thursday we announced billions of new relief aid for new york and new jersey transit agencies. and that's why the army corporation of engineers is working to restore beaches and strengthen the shore's natural defenses. that's why i joined governor chris tis a christie and representatives, we're going to keep doing what it takes to make it better than before, make it stronger than it was before. make it more resilient than it was before.

>> president obama in asbury park in new jersey, talking about recovery efforts seven months after superstorm sandy hit. take a look at this video as well. this is actually what it feels like, sounds like, looks like, inside a tornado packing winds as strong as 170 miles an hour. we're actually going to talk to the storm chasers inside of that tornado, up next. dle a saturday crowd. ♪ [ male announcer ] the parking lot helps by letting us know who's coming. the carts keep everyone on the right track. the power tools introduce themselves. all the bits and bulbs keep themselves stocked. and the doors even handle the checkout so we can work on that thing that's stuck in the thing. [ female announcer ] today, cisco is connecting the internet of everything. so everyone goes home happy.

a regular guy with an irregular heartbeat. the usual, bob? not today. [ male announcer ] bob has afib: atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem, a condition that puts him at greater risk for a stroke. [ gps ] turn left. i don't think so. [ male announcer ] for years, bob took warfarin, and made a monthly trip to the clinic to get his blood tested. but not anymore. bob's doctor recommended a different option: once-a-day xarelto®. xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem, that doesn't require routine blood monitoring. like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective to reduce the risk of an afib-related stroke. there is limited data on how these drugs compare when warfarin is well managed. no routine blood monitoring means bob can spend his extra time however he likes. new zealand! xarelto® is just one pill a day, taken with the evening meal. and with no dietary restrictions, bob can eat the healthy foods he likes.

do not stop taking xarelto® rivaroxaban without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. stopping may increase your risk of having a stroke. get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding, like unusual bruising or tingling. you may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take xarelto® with aspirin products, nsaids or blood thinners. talk to your doctor before taking xarelto® if you currently have abnormal bleeding. xarelto® can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. you are likely to bruise more easily on xarelto®, and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. tell your doctors you are taking xarelto® before any planned medical or dental procedures. before starting xarelto®, tell your doctor about any conditions, such as kidney, liver or bleeding problems. ready to change your routine? ask your doctor about once-a-day xarelto®. for more information including cost support options, call 1-888-xarelto or visit goxarelto.com.

next minute i'm in the back of an ambulance having a heart attack. i was in shape, fit. i did not see it coming. i take bayer aspirin. [ male announcer ] so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. see your doctor and get checked out. imagine what it would be like caught inside a tornado. professional storm chasers, they actually seek out that thrill, right. >> sean casey got a lot more than what he bargained for. riding out a kansas tornado inside a tank that is actually made to go inside of it. check out this video.

>> filmmaker and storm chase, sean casey, joins us from 15 line na, kansas, on skype. shawn, great to see you. glad you're okay. >> yeah. >> the imax movie "tornado alley" you got in the middle of eight tornados in your life. this was different than any of the others. tell us why. >> well, this was a violent tornado. when we made "tornado alley" we encountered a weak ef-3 tornado. this was a stronger ef-4 tornado, picking up a lot of debris. our vehicle, even though, you know, we had got into intercept

mode and got as low as we could, we were being just blasted by all of this debris from sheet metal to, you know, those large hail -- those hay bales, we were being slammed by everything. and this was the first time that, you know, usually i'm up in the tourette, we have a tourette with an imax camera. the first time i abandoned my post, it was lying flat down on the ground trying to get way from the window. >> tell us the moment where the door blew open and you had to literally get the door back. what happened? >> well it wasn't -- it wasn't -- we have latches that go in and i -- probably wasn't latched as far as it should have been. i was actually laying down in front of that door and all of a sudden that door, when we had this wind shift that door blasted open. all of a sudden things were blasting into the tiv, rocks, a

piece of wood we found, a this piece, a trunk of wood. i had to scurry from that position to get out of harm's way in the vehicle to get to another position. in the heat of the moment, there was a lot of like crawling around in the tiv. >> i want to share with our viewers here, tweets here it does convey what you were feeling emotionally here. tiv just hit by a strong tornado. we're okay. filmed imax. hit with lots of debris. door open. piece of wood entered vehicle. turret door blew open, camera blown into tivv. she didn't move at although! quite a mess there. yet the vehicle was able to stay on the ground. tell yus. how did that happen? >> well, you know, this vehicle was built to go into strong winds. you know, we have -- it weighs 16,000 pounds, all loaded up.

we have two-inch thick armor for our walling. we have panels that lower to the ground so it blocks winds from getting underneath the vehicles, lifting winds. then we have four spikes that go about 3 1/2 feet into the ground to keep us in one spot. so the funny thing was that the driver who controls all of the things that have to get down, that was his first day on the job. four hours earlier we were practicing in a sunny field in kansas. so when we were being slammed by the winds, i was laying down, operating the hydraulic spikes to make sure they were all in. scary. >> talk about baptism by fire, sean, glad you're good, okay. it's fascinating to even watch this video. i can't keep my eyes off of it. really appreciate it. >> thank you. >> thank you. chaos in west texas. this is after that fertilizer plant explodes while in the middle of all of it, there was a

volunteer firefighter who made it out alive. you're going to hear from him, up next. on everything from home repair to healthcare written by people just like you. no company can pay to be on angie's list, so you can trust what you're reading. angie's list is like having thousands of close neighbors where i can go ask for personal recommendations. that's the idea. before you have any work done, check angie's list. from roofers to plumbers to dentists and more, angie's list -- reviews you can trust. i love you, angie. sorry, honey. and do you know your... blooa or b positive?? have you eaten today? i had some lebanese food for lunch. i love the lebanese. i... i'm not sure. enough of the formalities... lets get started shall we? jimmy how happy are folks who save hundreds of dollars switching to geico? happier than dracula volunteering at a blood drive. we have cookies... get happy. get geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more.

but for all these symptoms, you also take kaopectate. new kaopectate caplets -- soothing relief for all those symptoms. kaopectate. one and done.

tomorrow will mark six weeks sense a fire and explosion eight texas fertilizer plant shattered the town of west. it is just one of the major stories that we are updating you on this week. 15 people died, including 12 first responders. ed lavandera talked with one firefighter injured in the blast. the latest on the road to recovery for the firefighter as well as the town. >> you okay? >> reporter: right in the middle of the chaos firefighter robert payne, which makes seeing him now, six weeks late, all the more remarkable. the explosion, do you remember it? >> i don't remember it at all, no. no. i watch it in video, see how

violent it is, how loud it is, no, i don't remember any of that at all. i don't remember anything really until the next morning waking up in icu. >> reporter: this was the blast site, payne was trying to retreat and played it 35 yards away behind a fire truck, which apparently shielded him just enough. the truck was left a mangled ruin, somehow robert payne survived. >> when i visited with the guy that rescued me, brad, he filled me in on a few things where i was found and the fact that i was blown out of my boots. my boots were in one place, he described i think about 35 feet away. >> reporter: payne has nerve damage in his right arm, broken ribs, broken facial bones and bone chips in his leg, and he needs surgery to repair his right eardrum, but he's alive. 12 other first responders weren't so lucky. >> those are some of the firefighters that we lost. >> reporter: the west mayor took us to the fire station. names of the firefighters who

died are still on lockers. there are two newdownated fire trucks. and west firefighters resumed handling calls again this past week. it's got to be hard for these guys to come in here. >> they may not want to get back on the horse but they have to get back on the horse. when the whistle blows, we're in charge of the place and we got to get on the trucks and go. >> reporter: the hard work is just beginning. this is the foundation from the building that blew up. >> yes. there's pieces all over this place. >> reporter: the mayor needs $4 million just to fix sewer and water lines and several hundred homes need to be rebuilt. one building won't be welcome back, the fertilizer plant. >> we don't have the ability to say you can't build here. >> reporter: what do you think the town reaction would be? >> the town reaction would probably be to the point where they wouldn't want to rebuild anyway. >> reporter: ed lavandera, cnn, west texas. >> a living nightmare for one family. an arizona mom of seven sitting

in a mexican jail cell, accused of trying to sell marijuana, next. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. it put me at ease that you could smoke on the first week. [ male announcer ] some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, or if you develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. with chantix and with the support system it worked for me. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if chantix is right for you.

with chantix and with the support system it worked for me. at university of phoenix we kis where it can take you.cation (now arriving: city hospital) which is why we're proud to help connect our students with leading employers across the nation. (next stop: financial center) let's get to work. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and the streetsmart edge trading platform from charles schwab... tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 gives me tools that help me find opportunities more easily. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 i can even access it from the cloud and trade on any computer. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and with schwab mobile, tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 i can focus on trading anyplace, anytime. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 until i choose to focus on something else. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 all this with no trade minimums. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and only $8.95 a trade. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 open an account with a $50,000 deposit, tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and get 6 months commission-free trades. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 call 1-866-564-1336.

the judge says there is not a delay in the george zimmerman trial. ruled that like connect texts and pictures from trayvon martin's cell phone. some of the banned information might ultimately come up at trial, if it's proven relevant and admissible. the judge also ruled there is going to be no gag order in this case. and the jury is not going to be sequestered. rig right now in nogales, mexico, a mother is in a jail cell accused of smuggling. she was returning home with her husband gary when soldiers stopped their bus at a checkpoint and searched it. they said they found 12 pounds

of marijuana. so first they said it was under gary's seat. then they said it was underneath his wife's seat. gary says he thinks they were set up. >> it was either that the packages were already on the bus or never on the bus and we were just framed, set up, for those packages. >> why would someone frame you? >> it's about getting money here. so the military was the only one there at the checkpoint. so from what i hear, that's a regular occurrence. >> so we're going to be tracking her court appearance today. we're going to let you know as soon as we hear about anything on whether or not she's actually going to be set free or has to stay in jail and wait for a trial. and good news today for home owners, chances are that your house, worth more than it was just a year ago. the case schiller housing index showed a 10.2% jump in the first

quarter. housing prices posted their biggest gains since way back in 2006. now, big reason, foreclosure sales are down. this usually drives prices down all over. well, never easy, of course. spelling bee, all those difficult words at the national spelling bee contest. but new rules making it even more stressful if you can believe that, up next.

i love this time. the national spelling bee under way. if it is not nerve wracking enough, just to spell the words right, get this, they're now adding vocabulary. students have to know what those words mean. here's casey wian with the story. >> reporter: for the winner there is a hero's welcome back home. a limo, even a meeting with the president. for everyone else, the national spelling bee can be hell. the pressure builds. competitors fidget. parents can't bear to watch. for correct answers, applause. mistakes bring the dreaded chime. this year the spelling bee will be even tougher. contestants in the preliminary rounds of the national finals also will be required to know the meanings of words. >> the reason for the change is

all about extending the bee's commitment to its purpose, which long has been not only to help students improve their spelling, but also to increase their vocabulary, learn concepts and develop correct english usage. >> reporter: don't tell that to 11-year-old spelling bee competitor sunat mishra. >> it doesn't make sense. i don't get the rule. >> reporter: last year he made it to the finals of the south asian spelling bee. he's now studying in hopes he'll reach the national finals, where south asian-americans have won ten of the past 14 competitions. >> i check the pages, look for words, then later my mom asks me the words. >> reporter: can you spell that for me. >> aypigyan. >> reporter: a group of anti-people living in southern italy. not knowing that may knock you out of this year's competition. the new rule is controversial in part because it was announced only seven weeks before the

national finals. >> yeah, there is going to be a lot of last minute studying and that's never good. >> the timing of our announcement of incorporation of vocabulary is absolutely fair. april is the first opportunity to engage all of the participants who have qualified for the national finals. >> reporter: scripps and espn reject speculation the rules changes tv ratings driven. perhaps an effort to limit the number of competitors in the finals. vocabulary tests won't be televised. sunat's parents have no problem with the new rule. >> make the rules harder, it will be for everybody. >> he's going to be number one, no matter how many rules you will change. >> reporter: casey wian, chino hills, california. >> i love the spelling bee. that's it for me. have a great afternoon. "cnn newsroom" continues right after this. on home repair to healthcare written by people just like you. with angie's list, i know who to call, and i know the results will be fantastic. angie's list -- reviews you can trust.

[ agent smith ] i've found software that intrigues me. it appears it's an agent of good. ♪ [ agent smith ] ge software connects patients to nurses to the right machines while dramatically reducing waiting time. [ telephone ringing ] now a waiting room is just a room. [ static warbles ] to support strong bones. and the brand most recommended by... my doctor. my gynecologist. my pharmacist. citracal. citracal. [ female announcer ] you trust your doctor. doctors trust citracal. ♪ fly me to the moon ♪ let me play among the stars ♪ and let me see what spring is like ♪

♪ on jupiter and mars ♪ in other words [ male announcer ] the classic is back. ♪ i love [ male announcer ] the all-new chevrolet impala. chevrolet. find new roads. ♪ you ♪ the middle of this special moment and i need to run off to the bathroom. ♪ i'm fed up with always having to put my bladder's needs ahead of my daughter. ♪ so today, i'm finally talking to my doctor about overactive bladder symptoms. [ female announcer ] know that gotta go feeling? ask your doctor about prescription toviaz. one toviaz pill a day significantly reduces sudden urges and accidents, for 24 hours. if you have certain stomach problems or glaucoma, or can not empty your bladder, you should not take toviaz. get emergency medical help right away if your face, lips, throat or tongue swells.

toviaz can cause blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and decreased sweating. do not drive, operate machinery or do unsafe tasks until you know how toviaz affects you. the most common side effects are dry mouth and constipation. talk to your doctor about toviaz. an american mother behind bars in mexico accused of smuggling pot. but her husband isn't the only one who thinks she was framed. i'm brooke baldwin. the news is now. a police officer ambushed, shot to death. and now as crews hunt his killer, his widow breaks her silence. >> i just want everybody to know what an amazing man he was. the jury deciding his fate won't see the crime scene. will it